Get Acquainted with Spike Lee's Akira Kurosawa Remake Because It's Sure to Be a Hit (2024)

Spike Lee is one of cinema's most distinct and prevalent voices to date, with seminal films like Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X , and She's Gotta Have It under his directorial belt. Next, Lee is undertaking an adaptation of a beloved classic, Akira Kurosawa's thriller masterpiece, High and Low from 1963. Many other filmmakers have previously expressed interest in remaking the Kurosawa classic, including the likes of Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.

However, Lee will be the first to bring the project to fruition, along with increasingly popular production company A24. High and Low will feature a script written by Alan Fox and Lee himself, and it is slated to star long-time collaborator Denzel Washington. This adaptation of High and Low will mark Lee's first feature film since the Oscar-nominated Da 5 Bloods. Here is everything we know so far about Lee's High and Low.

What Is 'High and Low' (1963) About?

High and Low is regarded as one of Kurosawa's most important works. It is no wonder that so many filmmakers feel a modernization of the material is overdue. There have already been several other international remakes, including a Bollywood version called Inkar. Originally based on the 1959 novel King's Ransom by Ed McBain, the original High and Low painted a striking picture of a post-war Japan, proving both emotionally and commercially successful as the highest domestic grossing film of its year.

At the time, it was the highest budget Kurosawa had ever worked with. High and Low was shot in Cinemascope, being cited as an expert example of widescreen filming to this day. Widely renowned for its exploration of themes including poverty, social stratification, and morality, audiences can look forward to what is bound to be a meaty interpretation by Lee.

In terms of plot, High and Low is a crime drama that follows a wealthy executive of a prominent Shoe Company in Yokohama named Kingo Gondo (Toshiro Mifune). Gondo has plans to gain control of the company with a plan to make high-quality, long-lasting shoes, but faces opposition from co-executives who see higher profit incentives in cheaply made shoes. Confident in his plan, Gondo sets up a secret leveraged buyout of the company with all of his savings.

That night, he receives a call claiming to have kidnapped his son, Jun, and demanding $30 million in ransom. Just as he is about to pay, Jun comes into the room. Gondo and his wife (Kyōko Kagawa) discover that the kidnappers have actually taken the chauffeur's son, Shinichi. A group of investigators arrives to handle the situation. The kidnapper calls back and, despite recognizing that Shinichi is not Gondo's son, still demands the ransom. Gondo must then decide between saving Shinichi's life and financial destruction. The rest of the story involves the solving of the mystery of the kidnappings and the eventual murder of the kidnapper's accomplices, who are found dead by drug overdose at the site where Shinichi was taken.

It is not yet known how similar Lee and Fox's adaptation will be to the original story.

Denzel Washington and the Cast

Denzel Washington, two-time Academy Award winner, is confirmed to star.He is no stranger to Spike Lee.This will mark the 35th creative year and fifth official project between Washington and Lee (others include the aforementioned Malcolm X, He Got Game, and 'Mo Better Blues). The last time the pair worked together was 2006's Inside Man, a rather commercially successful crime thriller starring Washington as a hostage negotiator.

Viewers who have seen Kurosawa's original High and Low may recognize similar themes between the upcoming film and Lee's and Washington's past projects together. Washington has allegedly been signed on to High and Low since the screenplay's inception.

Some other members of the High and Low remake cast have been announced. Jeffrey Wright, who was Oscar-nominated last year for the satirical comedy American Fiction, is set to star alongside Washington. Famed rapper Ice Spice is also confirmed to be a part of the cast. Other exciting names include Dean Winters (Oz, 30 Rock) and Ilfenesh Hadera (Lee's OldBoy Baywatch). The roles they will be playing remain undisclosed.

When Will Lee's 'High and Low' Come Out, and Where Can You See It?

High and Low wrapped filming on July 31. An official release date is still not known. There have been no marketing materials, trailers, or anything or the like released yet, but viewers can likely expect some soon considering the announcement of many cast members and the film's post-production status.

However, it is assumed that once Lee's High and Low is ready for public consumption, it will receive a theatrical release. Lee's works have historically mostly been released in theaters (except for Da 5 Bloods, which was a Netflix streaming exclusive). With the power of A24 backing High and Low, it is expected they would push for a cinematic release. However, High and Low is being co-distributed by Apple TV+, so if released in theaters, it can also likely be assumed they will receive a streaming exclusive following the run.

High And Low

Release Date

March 1, 1963

Cast

Toshiro Mifune , Tatsuya Nakadai , Kyôko Kagawa , Tatsuya Mihashi , Yutaka Sada

Runtime

143 Minutes

Main Genre

Crime